Karunanidhi playing Dalit card: Jayalalithaa

AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa has alleged that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M. Karunanidhi was trying to trivialise the telecom scam that allegedly involves Telecommunications Minister A. Raja by playing the caste card.

In a statement here on Thursday, Ms. Jayalalithaa said Mr. Karunanidhi had “shamelessly played the Dalit card” to neutralise the Dalit leaders who, in Parliament, were demanding Mr. Raja's resignation.

She said Mr. Karunanidhi did not address any of the issues raised in connection with the scam. Instead, he chose to criticise the Opposition for raising all pertinent issues, on the ground that Mr. Raja is a Dalit. His aim was to deflect people's attention from the scam, she added.